The Highway Of Life

THE HIGHWAY OF LIFE

My Dad worked for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad for nearly fifty years. He was responsible for maintaining over 200 miles of railroad tracks. Part of the tracks ran from the docks of the harbor on Lake Erie to a steel mill that was the largest manufacturer of pipe in America. Although the distance from the harbor to the steel mill was only a few miles, the tracks formed an intricate system of switches and tracks that had to be carefully laid out and spaced for the engines, coal cars, and iron ore cars to pass each other safely.

One evening when he returned from work, he was visibly shaken. He sat quietly and said nothing. All of the family knew that something serious had happened and we knew not to ask questions. When he was ready to talk, he would tell us the story.

Finally, he said, “We had a terrible accident in Elyria today. The men who worked there did not prepare the “bed” properly for the tracks, and they gave way today. The engine fell over on its side and killed the engineer.” Someone failed to take the time to lay the foundation and build the bed strong enough for the trains to pass safely. That engineer did not have to die and leave his family. Someone failed in their duty, and it cost the engineer his life.

“The highway of the upright avoids evil, he who guards his way guards his life,” wrote Solomon. The word “highway” refers to a raised roadway that is carefully groomed and maintained. We “groom” our highway when we read God’s Word, pray, and seek His way.

Prayer: Father, help us to be aware of the foundations we establish. May we be sensitive to the importance of guarding each step by walking the way Your Son did. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today: Proverbs 16:17 The highway of the upright avoids evil, he who guards his way guards his life.